Swagatalakshmi Dasgupta performs on the first day of Maghmanjari O Pithe Puli Utsav

The final days of the month of Magh in the Bengali calendar, heralding the end of winter, are being celebrated with grandeur at Sarat Sadan. Maghmanjari O Pithe Puli Utsav, as it has been named, is the new Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC) board’s first attempt at organising a cultural festival in Howrah town. Inaugurated on February 6, by the minister for urban development and municipal affairs, Firhad Hakim, and HMC mayor Rathin Chakraborty, the 10-day programme will continue till February 15. Others present at the programme on the inaugural day included HMC commissioner, Nilanjan Chattopadhyay, HMC chairman Aurobindo Guha and all the councillors of the wards under HMC. In his address, Firhad Hakim said, “We want to promote cultural awareness in Howrah along with industrial development. Initiatives like these should be encouraged.”

Mayor Rathin Chakraborty and minister Firhad Hakim inaugurate the event

The opening dance was performed by Kashmira Samanta’s team while Swagatalakshmi Dasgupta rendered some popular Rabindrasangeet on the stage made in the children’s park beside Sarat Sadan. The gathering at the park was impressive and it was evident that the audience enjoyed listening to Purano shei diner kotha, Aloker ei jharna dharaye and other adhunik songs. The pithe puli stalls were few at the mela. Those that were selling patisapta, puli pithe, doodh puli and other winter-special sweets, had a long queue in front of them. Handicraft items were also being sold.

Pithe puli being sold from the stalls. (Gopal Senapati)

The 10-day long festivities included performances by Swapan Basu, a Manna Dey memorial evening where Sudeb Dey performed evergreen hits of the artiste. Dwandik’s play Bhalo Chele was staged on February 10 and Swapna Ghoshal did a Rabindrasangeet recital on February 10. For the non-Bengali residents of Howrah, there was a special ghazal evening on February 11. Childrens’ dance, singing and recitation were slated for February 13. Folk music band Dohar, will regale audiences with their songs of the soil on February 14. On the final day, Piya Acharya will bring the programme to a close with her popular Bengali songs. People gathered in good numbers to watch the first such event by the new civic body.

Episodes from the Ramayana stitched on a nakshikatha	Pithe puli garnished and decorated at the Bally Jagacha competition

The Bengali’s Poush parbon favourite patisapta was celebrated through a patisapta-making competition where the sweet was served in a variety of ways. Garnished with cashew nuts, raisins and cherries or decorated with roses and marigolds, each participant put in her best to make the winter sweet delectable. The Patisapta Prastut Pratijogita and nakshikatha competition were some of the events of the daylong programme organised by Bally Jagacha Civil Rights Protection and Welfare Society, on February 2 at Nischinda Paschimpara. The society has been organising this annual event for the past three years.